TK Posted November 6, 2003 Share Posted November 6, 2003 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/134057p-119493c.html Spurrier not going back to school NY Daily News by Dick Weiss Steve Spurrier, college football's resident genius when he coached at the University of Florida, is experiencing the same type of frustration in the NFL with the Redskins that Rick Pitino had after he left Kentucky basketball for the Boston Celtics. Spurrier signed a five-year, $25 million contract, but after a season and a half, Spurrier has yet to make a dent, going 10-14. There has been so much heat from the local media, rumors are flying out of D.C. that Spurrier may want to go back to school and has definite interest in the University of North Carolina job. There is even one report Spurrier already has secretly met with Carolina officials about the job, which supposedly will open at the end of the season when John Bunting, who is 1-8 in his third year and has the worst defense in the ACC, is canned. That's news to Carolina AD Dick Baddour, who — contrary to rumors — did not play golf with Spurrier last week and fully expects Bunting to be back next year. And then there's Spurrier's reputation on Tobacco Road. He might be one of the most hated people in Chapel Hill after he blitzed the Tar Heels, 41-0, in his last game as head coach at Duke in 1989. It got so bad, he was running trick plays trying to push the score over 50. We're sure Duke (2-7) — which does have a job opening and apparently will not hire interim coach Ted Root — would love to have Spurrier back, but right now, Duke is a dead-end job and it would have to open a mint to afford him. Spurrier has been the subject of constant job rumors all fall. The wildest one has him taking over at Tennessee — a school he used to trash on a regular basis — if Phil Fulmer steps down. Scratch that one as out of hand, too. Spurrier could consider a return to his college roots, someday. Or he might just go golfing. But he won't land in Chapel Hill next year. UConn do it Connecticut (7-3) is considered a long shot for an invite to a bowl game when bids are handed out. But if Randy Edsall's Huskies defeat Rutgers in Storrs on Saturday and finish with eight regular-season wins, they could back their way into a second-tier bowl. It's conceivable a slot could open up in the Motor City Bowl if the seventh-place Big Ten team doesn't qualify. If that happens, look for Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese to lobby for the Huskies, who deserve it if they finish strong. By the way, there is an outside chance Rutgers (4-4) could be bowl eligible too if it wins Saturday and beats either Syracuse or Boston College. Of course, an upset of Miami wouldn't hurt either. Still, even if the Knights are bowl eligible, that doesn't guarantee a bowl-selection committee rolling out the red, er, scarlet, carpet for them. No one is expecting 2-6 Notre Dame to go anywhere even if it defeats Navy on Saturday in South Bend and wins its final four games. The Irish — who have not lost to the Middies in 39 years — will not accept any second-tier bowl bids. Sore losers There's bad blood in the aftermath of Virginia Tech's 31-7 victory over Miami in Blacksburg. Miami coach Larry Coker was complaining to local reporters that Virginia Tech's All-American center Jack Grove blocked Santonio Thomas below the knees 10 yards from the play after the defender slowed up. Coker, who showed the film to the media and sent a copy to Big East offices, called the play "more malicious" than when Ohio State linebacker Robert Reynolds jammed his fingers into the throat of Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi and choked him back on Oct. 11. Thomas will miss this Saturday's game with Tennessee. "That's the first big win for them and they don't know how to handle it," Miami tackle Eric Winston said. "If they want to take those cheap shots, that proves what kind of people they are. They're not going to change. They'll have to face consequences down the road of their actions. Everything comes full circle." For his part, Grove said he couldn't see the play developing and was trying to block Thomas before he turned at the last moment. "I was was just trying to keep him off the play," Grove claimed. "I wasn't trying to hurt the guy. If they feel that way, I'm sorry." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselPwr44 Posted November 6, 2003 Share Posted November 6, 2003 Steve Spurrier, college football's resident genius when he coached at the University of Florida, is experiencing the same type of frustration in the NFL with the Redskins that Rick Pitino had after he left Kentucky basketball for the Boston Celtics. This statement right here proves that the writer does not know what he's talking about. Rick Pitino the GM killed Rick Pitino the coach. Plus Pitino tried to micromanage games. Where do you see this in Spurrier? These Media guys are an absolute joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TODD Posted November 6, 2003 Share Posted November 6, 2003 I was a diehard Celtics fan in the Pitino era, he's no Spurrier... the guy just couldn't coach the NBA, his offense didn't work, and at many points would lose his players... not at all like Spurrier, not at all.... *note sarcasm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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